What’s it about shipping pallets that’s so endearing? For me it’s the rustic, obsolete grade of the timber, together with the mystery of what kinds of merchandise the pallet may have supported. Once left out from the components, the wood pallets can take to a gorgeous distressed look. So rather than abandon a discarded pallet found at my church to be hauled away, I got permission to carry it embarked on a different father-daughter DIY job. This time we made three frames in various sizes to show family photos.
Julie Ranee Photography
Dressing up a wall mounted vignette are three pastoral frames made out of timber from a reclaimed pallet to match photographs in the following sizes: 8 inches by 10 inches, 8 by 12 inches and 12 by 12 inches.
Time: 1 hour
Ability level: Moderate
Materials cost: $5 plus timber pallet or other reclaimed timber. (Our pallet was free. Make sure you ask permission before choosing pallets you find behind a business; some might not really be discarded.)
Julie Ranee Photography
How to Generate the Rustic Wood Picture Frames
Tools
HammerNail pullersMeasuring tapeMiter saw (not revealed here)RouterDrillClampSafety gogglesGlovesMaterials
Shipping palletCorner braces (1 1/2 inches by 3/8 inch)Triangular picture hangers (not revealed here)Wire (not revealed here)Duct tape
Julie Ranee Photography
That is exactly what our pallet looked like. The timber on the bottom was not usable; we used the planks pictured on this side to produce the frames.
1. Wearing safety goggles and gloves, use nail pullers and a hammer to disassemble the pallet. Sort the planks based on width. Use planks.
Julie Ranee Photography
2. Miter the conclusion of the first board by cutting a 45-degree angle.
Tip: We used a miter saw (shown here), but you can use a circular saw rather. Our pallet was made from hardwood, so some sort of power saw was required.
Julie Ranee Photography
3. Utilizing the measuring tape along the inside border of the mitered board, measure 1/2 inch less than the image width and mark with a pencil. As an example, here we measured 7 1/2 inches for the 8-inch side of the 8-by-10 frame.
Julie Ranee Photography
4. Putting the saw blade onto the mark you just made, miter (cut in a 45-degree angle) the other end of your very first board. If you’re using a miter saw, rrotate the blade to reduce another corner, and that means you are going to make the 2nd 45-degree cut from the opposite direction of their first.
Julie Ranee Photography
That is exactly what your board should look like with both ends mitered at 45 degrees. The inside length is 7 1/2 inches.
Julie Ranee Photography
5. Utilize the board you just completed to mark the cuts onto another board.
To get a square framework, you may repeat this step four times, because most of the sides are the same length. To get a rectangular frame, return to step 2 to finish the other two sides of this framework, taking into account that the period of the sides (mark 1/2 inch less than the dimensions of this photograph you intend to exhibit).
Julie Ranee Photography
6. Clamp the board into the edge of a workbench to prepare for routing, which will create the ledge where the picture will rest.
Julie Ranee Photography
7. Route each board. We used a 1/2-inch router bit and corrected the router so that it was 1/4 inch and 1/4 inch deep. Route half of this board.
Julie Ranee Photography
8. Reclamp the board to finish the other half.
Tip: Test the router onto a piece of scrap board. Before making any alterations, unplug the router. Ensure you route on the inside border and back side of the framework.
We cut the planks and then routed, but a better option may be to track the entire board first and then make the cuts.
Julie Ranee Photography
9. Construct the frames. Drill very shallow pilot holes with a 3/32-inch bit. Utilize corner braces to attach the sides together. We had to buy shorter (3/8-inch) screws instead of using the 1/2-inch screws that came with the braces.
Julie Ranee Photography
10. Attach the picture-hanging hardware. We used wire and triangular hangers.
Julie Ranee Photography
11. Insert the image. I will be honest: We attempted to use standard picture metal clips inserted in the framework to hold the image, but this timber was too hard! Instead, we used a couple of strips of duct tape onto the back of the photograph and frame.
Tip: once I get my pictures published, I have them mounted onto styrene foam planks to make them extra sturdy and have them printed with a matte finish.
Your turn: We would love to see what you’ve made with reclaimed wood. Please show us under!
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